In the treatment of rectal diiculties, ,for example, surgical operations on the rectum, there is need for a. bandage which is convenient and efficient in application and use, and can be comfortably worn by the user. The position of the opening of the rectum or anus, and the configuration of those parts are such that when an attempt is made to use the ordinary types of bandages or those now available, it is found that they are awkward, inefficient and uncomfortable.

An important object of the invention is to overcome the diculties mentioned and provide a bandage having the above-mentioned advantages.

In accordance lwith the invention, there is provided an elongated pad of highly absorbent, fibrous material, e. g., absorbent cotton, cotton batting and the like. The pad has flat top and bottom surfaces, lateral edges and ends, and contains a highly absorbent core. The core is enclosed rwithin an envelope, which is preferably made of medicated gauze. The envelope, like the core, is elongated and has lateral overlapping edge portions forming a lapped seam The envelope also has terminal edges at the ends thereof. At the end of the envelope there is provided an adhesive strip for holding the envelope in position and sealing the lcore therewithin and that strip not only controls the sealing and holding above-mentioned, but also provides means causing the bandage to adhere to the wearers body.

The invention will be therefore described by reference to the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 has a plan view of parts broken away.

Fig. 2 is a section of line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an edge View looking in the direction of the arrows 3-3 Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View with parts broken away.

Fig. 5 is a section of line 5-5 on Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the core of the bandage includes an elongated .pad I, which has fiat top and bottom surfaces 2, 3, as shown, lateral edge portions 4, and ends 5. The pad may be formed by what is commonly referred to as absorbent cotton, which is a special form of cotton batting. It consists of relatively longr cotton fibers, is highly absorbent and medicated. In addition to the absorbent cotton pad, the core .2 -may yalso-.be providedwith thin strips .6, 'I of highly absorbentcellulose tissue paper which contributes to the-absorbentqualitiesof the core. If such tissue-paper-is used; theabsorbentcottonpad I is sandwichedlbetween those'tissue sheets 6, 1.

Surrounding the core is a gauze envelope 8. This may be fonmed by taking a. layer or sheet of gauze having a length coextensive rwith the length of the core and a width suicient to provide overlapping edges 9, I9, and folding the sheet of gauze around the core so that the lateral edges of the gauze overlap to provide the mentioned overlapping lateral edge portions 9, I9, which extend longitudinally of the core. The :gauze envelope also has terminal edge portions II, I2 and these are also overlapping (see Fig. 5).

The gauze envelope is held together and sealed by the terminal edges II, I2 thereof by means of adhesive strips I3, positioned by each end, respectively. A portion I3A of the adhesive strip is used to seal together the overlapping gauze edges at the ends II, I2 thereof whereby the absorbent core is securely held within the envelope thus sealed, it being observed that the sealing together of the end portions I I, I2 of the gauze envelope not only effects sealing at these ends, but also maintains the overlapping lateral edge portions 9, lil closing contact vthroughout the entire longitudinal lenigth gauze envelope. No stitching or other means is required to keep the lateral edges 9, I9 (note Fig. 4) in suitable overlapping position.

No portion I3B of the adhesive strip is used to cause the bandage to adhere to the wearers body and that portion ISB may be covered by protective gauze layer I4', which may be stripped off before using. The latter gauze ill may be made of buckram or `crinoline as distinguished from the medical gauze 8 of the envelope.

It is desirable to observe certain dimensional characteristics which may be set as follows:

The transverse width of the bandage may be about 1 to 11/2, e, g., 11/4. The thickness may be about Mr to The length of the bandage not including the terminal adhesive strips, may be 8" to 10" e. g., 9" and the overall length including the adhesive terminal strips may be 10" to 12, e. lg., 12". Those dimensions are illustrative and may be varied to some extent although it must be borne in mind that the bandage must not be too wide or too thick in order to serve its purpose, nor must it be too long or too short, having in view the special 3 purposes for which the bandage is intended and the manner in which it is used.

In use one end of the bandage is stuck to the body of the wearer about at the base of the spine. The bandage is then passed longitudinally through the Wearers crotch so as to cover the 'opening of the rectum and the other end is then brought up and attached to the skin on the upper portion of the leg, avoiding the lhair occurring in those regions so that the bandage may be readily removed Without discomfort.

What is claimed is:

A bandage dimensionally adapted for rectal application comprising an elongated pad of highly absorbent fibrous materiaL- having vflat top and bottom surfaces, lateral edges and ends and constituting an absorbent core, a gauze envelope enclosing said core, said envelope having lateral overlapping edge portions forming a lapped seam extending 'longitudinally of said coreand also having terminal end edges, strips of adhesive tape at the ends of said envelope, respectively, a Vportion of said tape being adhesively joined to the overlappedgauze edges at the ends thereof and also being adhesively joined to the terminal end edges of said gauze, the remaining unjoined end portions of said ta'pe being adapted respectively for adhesive attachment at the rectal area. of the wearer at about the base of the spine and on the upper portion of a leg, and a pair of thin strips of highly absorbent tissue positioned adjacent and covering the flat top and bottom surfaces of said pad dor absorbent purposes,

SIDNEY J. CAHILL.

REFERENCES CITED lThe following references are of record in the le of this patent: